Another Not Back to School Year
During the late summer months, there is so much talk of the coming school year. For homeschooling families, though, a better term might be a not back to school year.
What is a not back to school year?
You hear talk among non-homescholing children about their anticipation for a new school year and who will be in class with whom. You see the school supply lists posted in each store (and online) to ensure every parent will fulfill their child’s wishlist of school items.
When everyone finally gets around to talking about who their teacher will be, your kids hesitate, pause, and then state they are homeschooled. (This is when it’s time to crack a joke about how bad your kids’ teacher is!)
Once the official public school year starts, you then have the opportunity to pause and think about how different the opening day of public school is compared to your homeschool “not back to school” experience.
Your Not Back to School Day Might Look Something Like This!
While the families on your street are huddled about at the end of their driveways in anticipation of the school bus’ first stop of the year ….you’re still snuggled in bed–perhaps checking your phone or spending a few moments of quiet prayer time before beginning your day.
While the public school hallways fill up with the hustle and bustle of finding those first classrooms….you are sitting at the kitchen table with your kids enjoying your breakfast together.
While introductions are being made, seat assignments found, and teachers going over their syllabi….you’re already done with math, English, and onto your first art project of the year!
While classroom routines are being learned and more introductions made…you sit together with your not back to school class, eating lunch, having finished your “sit down” work, you’re discussing how to spend the rest of your day.
While buses are being found, loaded, and driving kids home….you’re playing pickleball at the park.
As Facebook and Instagram fill up with “first day” photos of children in backpacks waiting for their buses, and beds fill early in anticipation of another early to rise school day….your phone is filled with photos of your kids and their not back to school day.
While day 2 and day 3 are spent settling into public schools, learning to get from class to class on time, and adjusting to the homework load….you spend them at the park (socialization classes, you know) gathering with your fellow homeschoolers (peers) to celebrate yet another Not Back to School Year.
Resources for Your New Homeschool Year
6 Tips on Teaching Your Kids Time Management
Choose the Mom Friendly Homeschool Method
New Homeschool Year? 6 Tips for a Smooth Start
It’s so nice to put family first and not get all caught up in this fast paced world!
Jeannine,
You are so right! I often feel that despite the homeschooling, our family does get caught up with the fast pace. That is one of the things that struck me about this first day of school and how we were able to savor and enjoy our time.
We always complain about my people’s teacher, too. She is not a morning person, drinks coffee constantly, and knits. What does she get paid for, anyway? 😉
Hey Pamela!
I am not a morning person either! Inside of coffee, chocolate is my angst! And I wish I were half the knitter you were! I was stumped forever recently on whether I had finished a wrong row or not! 😉
I feel the same way. It’s so nice to not have to wait for the bus to come or to walk to school. We can enjoy our time, take our time and have fun while learning! It’s awesome that we can go do field trips and spend as much time in one spot as we want 😉 Sounds/looks like a great first day 😉
Jen,
Field trips are definitely another perk! I love being able to go to local museums and such while it is less crowded during the day, and to be able to spend as much or as little time on each thing as we choose.
I love this! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you Mrs. O! This was a topic that just popped up. Considering this is our 7th year of homeschooling it surprises me how stark the difference seemed to be to me this year!
I greatly appreciate that time I used to spend shoving kids out of bed and through their mornings and out the door is now spent cuddling on the couch. I am so happy we don’t live the public school paced life any more.
I love the later start to mornings as well Becca! I just my 13 year old could half appreciate the 8:30am alarm time she complains so much about! All her peers are up at 5:30 ish so she has nothing to complain about!
I loved reading this! This is our first year homeschooling. Our daughters who are 8 and 10 were previously in public school so this years first day of school was awesome to them and myself as well. I love spending our days with more fulfilling time than waiting for buses, worrying about homework, etc.
Vanessa,
It is amazing to me how much you can fit into your day, in a much smaller amount of time! Without so many students and wasted travel/busy time, things like math take way less time!
This is my third year homeschooling. I love not having the stress of hurrying to make lunches, having homework, getting kids up early, spending a fortune on school supplies and school fundraisers. I love having extra time in my day because I’m not volunteering at/for school. And I really love spending extra time with my kids each day.
I second that Leslie! Being on our own schedule is such a blessing!
Fun post. Thanks!
Oh…and by the way, great name. 🙂
Heidi,
😉 Yes, great name!
Loved this Heidi!
Thank you Darcy! 🙂
Love what you wrote!! This is my first year homeschooling my little kindergartner. I read a variety of books to get ideas. I am currently reading a book “Teaching outside the box” by LouAnne Johnson when I came across a paragraph she wrote: “..since most children spend more time around teachers than they do with their parents and families, we teachers really do play a significant role in shaping their values and behavior. So we have an obligation to teach our students, by our own example, to be articulate, ethical, compassionate, and honorable people.” – After reading that, I felt so happy, proud, and lucky to be homeschooling, and to be that teacher. I feel lucky to be spending all of my time with my children, instead of someone else spending that time with them. 🙂
I especially LOVE the art project! What a fun idea.
Heidi,
I love this post! I feel exactly the same way. We are so blessed to be able to share this time with our children.
My children notice how lucky they are to be at home when their friends are stuck in a classroom. Freedom to take small overnight trips during the week when everyone is in school – less crowded! Freedom to practice at the archery range during the middle of the day when everyone is in a classroom – no waiting in line! Freedom to come back home and grab a couple of hours of sleep after a 5:30am swim practice when most of their friends have to head off for an 8 hour day at school.
Thanks for reminding all of us of of some of the wonderful benefits of the homeschool life.
Laura